FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Completing the FAFSA is the 1st step towards college financial aid!
If you don’t fill out the FAFSA, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid! It is extremely important that you have a completed FAFSA on file so that you remain eligible for all types of college financial aid. Click here to read about common FAFSA myths.
Completing the FAFSA is the only way to become eligible for Federal Pell Grants and the Oregon Opportunity Grant. The 2018-2019 maximum Federal Pell Grant is $6,095. The maximum Oregon Opportunity Grant is $2,600 for community colleges and $3,200 for four-year colleges. Grants are money for college that you do NOT have to pay back. These grants are based on your expected family contribution (EFC), which is determined when you complete the FAFSA.
You must complete the FAFSA to help your college determine if you are eligible for Work-Study Jobs at your college. Learn more about Work-Study Jobs here.
Completing the FAFSA is also the only way to qualify for Federal Student Loans. This is OPTIONAL--you do not have to take out a student loan if you complete the FAFSA. Federal student loans typically have a lower interest rate than private loans, do not accrue interest during college (if they are subsidized loans), and are eligible for several repayment plans based on your income once you graduate and begin working. Learn more about student loans here.
To complete the FAFSA you will need:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Your 2017 federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- An FSA ID to sign electronically (both the student and a parent need their own FSA IDs - if a parent has an FSA ID they used for themselves or with another child, they would use the same FSA ID they previously used)
Need more help? Please contact Federal Student Aid
Chat online with Federal Student Aid
Call Federal Student AidMonday–Friday
8 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern time (ET)
Saturday–Sunday
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern time (ET)
Closed on federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving and on December 24th.
Open on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, and Washington's Birthday from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.
Can't wait until October 1st??
Not a US Citizen??
However, you CAN fill out the ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application). The ORSAA is an alternative to the FAFSA for undocumented Oregon students, including students who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. Click here to complete the ORSAA.